Tsunami hits American Samoa

A tsunami swept into Pago Pago in American Samoa shortly after an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.9 shook the Pacific area.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or structural damage.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Honolulu issued a tsunami warning for American Samoa and other areas of the Pacific, including New Zealand.

A tsunami watch was posted elsewhere, including Hawaii and the Marshall Islands.

The quake hit at 6.48am Tuesday (6.48pm Irish time) midway between Samoa and American Samoa. In the Samoan capital, Apia, families fled their homes for higher ground amid severe shaking that lasted for up to three minutes.